Apparatus for handling automobiles



Feb. 2, 1954 R. o. BILLINGS APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AUTOMOBILES FiledOct. 20, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet i Feb. 2, 1 R. o. BILLINGS APPARATUS FORHANDLING AUTOMOBILES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20, 1948 Feb. 2, 1954R. o. BILLINGS 2,667,983

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AUTOMOBILES Efiled Oct. 20, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES assists" PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for handlingautomobiles.

Automobile parking in the business districts has become a seriousproblem in nearly every sizable city. With the number of automobiles inuse becoming greater every day, the situation is reaching a point wheresomething must be done to provide a solution.

Many attempts have been made in the past to provide means for storinglarge numbers of automobiles in buildings, and for utilizing a maximumamount of the space within the buildings for actual storage purposes.While many of these attempts have provided utilization of a largepercentage of space in a building for storage, none has been used to anygreat extent either because of impractical design or because of theextremely high cost of such installations;

It has heretofore been proposed to construct a building having alongitudinally and vertically extending passageway with storage stallson opposite sides thereof arranged in superimposed horizontallyextending rows. In the passageway it has been proposed to provide ameans for elevating automobiles iron an entrance point at the groundlevel and for moving them longitudinally to positions in registrationwith selected stalls. Means have also been proposed for movilflg theautomobiles from the elevator into said stalls and from the stalls ontothe elevator.

In prior attempts the means for accomplishing the various steps in theabove proposed method of parking automobiles have taken the form of aWide variety of devices. The elevating means, for example, has taken theform of a cage supported from an overhead movable carriage, and it hasalso taken the form of a cage supported for vertical movement within atower which is movable longitudinally of the passageway. In many casesthe construction required that an operator ride in the elevator cage.The means for moving the automobile ofi the elevator into the selectedstall has also taken awide variety of forms. Certain of these requirethe operator to drive the car off under its own power, and others havecomplicated and expensive mechanisms which are for the most partimpractical, Other devices of this type are provided with jacks or otherdevices which are engageable with certain parts on the understructure ofthe car. With changes in automobile design many of these have becomeobsolete, because they do not operate properly with the late model cars.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forhandling automobiles having elevators, each of which is provided with adolly which is movable longitudinally thereof, 'said dolly having aframe provided with tire engaging rollers, and said frame being mountedto permit its projection into the storage stalls adjacent each end ofsaid elevator upon movement of said dolly toward one of said stalls.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theclass described wherein the frame which is provided with the tireengaging rollers is mounted on the dolly for swingable movement throughan arc of approximately to thereby permit its projection into a stall ateither end of the elevator.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theclass described wherein the tire engaging rollers are retractableinwardly from tire engaging position to permit the swingable framebearing said rollers to be moved into and out of operative positionunder an automobile.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of theimproved apparatus for handling automobiles, and all of its parts andcombinations, as set forth in the claims-and all equivalents thereof.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specificationwherein is shown one complete embodiment of the preferred form of theinvention, and wherein the same reference numerals indicate the sameparts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved apparatus for handlingautomobiles;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view on a larger scale showing the movable towerand the elevators associated therewith;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top view of one of the dollies showingthe swingable frame mounted thereon;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line l4 of Fig. 3;and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line55 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the numeral itindicates a structure which has a plurality of superimposed automobilestorage stalls ll on opposite sides of a central passageway E2, thelatter extending longitudinally and vertically with respect to thestructure ID. The stalls H are preferably arranged in rows which extendin the same horizontal plane, there being several of such horizontalrows of stalls superimposed upon one another. The structure I0 maytakethe form of a building in 3 which the horizontal rows of stalls arelocated on respective floors of said building, but it preferably takesthe form shown, namely that of an open framework.

Mounted at the upper end of the passageway i2, and extendinglongitudinally along each side thereof, are a pair of spaced parallelhorizontally extending I beams 3 and i l. The beams I3 and [4 support apair of tracks !5 and 56 which are fixed to the upper surface thereof.

The numeral [1 indicates a tower assembly which is supported forlongitudinal movement on the rails l5 and I6. Referring to Fig. 2, thetower assembly ll may consist of a pair of longitudinally extendingtruck members is and iii, each of which is formed of a pair of channelmembers 29 and 2|, and at each end of which is journalled a wheel 22preferably having a grooved periphery. The wheels 22 travel on the 7upper surfaces of the rails i5 and i6. Extending transversely of andsupported on the truck members 18 and 59 are a pair of spaced transversesupporting members 23 and 25.

Depending downwardly from the supporting members 23 and 24 is anelongated rectangular cage or tower member 25. The tower 255 may beconstructed of suitable metal shapes such as the elongated verticallyextending angle members 26 positioned in each corner thereof and havingsuitable angularly disposed members 2'? extending therebetween to form astructure which is rectangular in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 5. Onopposite sides of the tower member 2:: a

pair of vertical angle guide members 23 are fixed to the angle members26 and extend longitudinally thereof as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Theguide members 28 are eachformed with a longitudinally extending flangeor rail it which projects from the inner face thereof. 23 of the guidemembers 28 on one side of the tower project toward each other as shownin Fig. 5. Mounted for vertical movement at the sides of the tower l!and adjacent the guide members 28 are a pair of elevators 3i; and 34.

The elevators 3t and SI are substantially identical, and each comprisesa pair of spaced vertically extending channel members at the upper andlower ends of which are journalled wheels 33. The wheels 33 are eachformed with a peripheral groove 36. The lower ends of the members 32 ofeach elevator are fixedlyconnected, through suitable brackets, to ahorizontally extending channel member which is C-shaped in crosssection. Each end of each channel 35 is provided with a dependingrelatively short leg 36, and fixed to the upper surface of the members35, as by the brackets 3'? (see Fig. 4), is a V-shaped angle member 33..A second channel member 38 is positioned outwardly of each of thechannels 35, parallel therewith and in the same horizontal plane. Thechannels 33 are also G-shaped in cross section, and it will be notedthat the open. faces of the channels 35 and 38 of each elevator faceoneanother. The channels 38 are suported at each end by suitable bracketswhich fixedly connect them to a pair of vertically extending channelmembers 39. The lower ends of the channels 39 are positioned in the samehorizontal plane as the lower ends of the legs 36, and the-upper ends ofthe members 39 extend to the same horizontal plane as the upper ends ofthe channels 32.

A pair of crossed beams 40 rigidly connect the upper ends of thechannels 32 with the upper ends of thechannels 39, as shown ,in Fig. 2.An elon- The flanges i 35 and 41.

intermediate the length thereof are a pair of elecgated plate 4| isfixed to the upper surface of the channels 38 as shown, and a short beam42 extends parallel with the channels 38 and connects intermediateportions of the beams 40. A suitable pulley 43 is connected to the uppersurface of each of the beams 42.

A pair of spaced channel members 44 and 45 are fixedly mounted on thesupporting beams 23 and 2d and extend transversely thereof. The channels44 andAs project beyond the members 23 and 24 and converge toward oneanother at each end. Journalled in said ends are pulleys Mounted on thechannels 44 and 45 trically powered hoisting winches 48 and 49.

A'hoi-sting cable 5% is fixed at one end adjacent the pulley 46 andextends downwardly around the pulley 43 therebelow, upwardly over thepulley 46 and inwardly to the drum of the winch 48 around which theremainder thereof is wound. Asecond cable 5! has one end fixed adjacentthe pulley 47 and extends downwardly around the pulley 43 therebelow,upwardly over the pulley 41 and inwardly to the drum of the winch 49around which the remainder thereof is wound.

It is apparent that by operation of the electric winches 48 and 49 theelevators 3t and 3| can be raised or lowered as desired, eachindependently of the other. By reason of the coaction of the wheels 33with the guide members 28 the movement of the elevators 30 and 3! islimited tovertical rectilinear movement, and tilting or swaying thereofis prevented regardless of thesize or position of the load thereon.

At the top of the tower ashaft 52 is fixed to and extends 'betweena pairof the wheels 22. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 52 is a worm wheel 53which coacts with a worm 54'fixed on the shaft of a reversible electricmotor 515. The motor 55 is mounted on the supporting member23 throughsuitable brackets such as those shown at 56. and 51. Operation of themotor 55 causes rotation .of the wheels 22 fixed to the shaft 52, andthis, in turn, causes movement of the entire tower assembly i'llongitudinally of the passageway 12. The tower 25, during saidlongitudinal movement, is prevented from swaying transversely'by a pairof struts 5B and 59 mounted on opposite sides thereof. The struts '58and 59 are each formed of four outwardly projecting legs ee whichconverge to an apex 6 l at which point a roller s2 is mounted forrotation in a horizontalplane. The roller 62 rollingly engages thesurface of a suitable plate (not shown) which extends longitudinally ofthe passageway l-2 at-each side thereof.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that each of the elevators 3D and3| is provided with a dolly 63 which is mounted for movementlongitudinally thereof.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the dolly 63 has a frame which may be madeof a-pair of parallel tubular members 64 and as which-are connectedadjacent each end by relatively short tubular members Stand 6? at rightangles thereto. Rotatably mounted at each'end of the frame members 64and 65 and positioned avithin the adjacent channel members 35 and tearswheels :98. The wheels '68 have adiameter which isslightly less than.but substantially equal tothe height ,of the interior of the channels35 and 33, so that said rollers can-rollingly engage either-theupperinterior or the lower interior surface of ,said channels with a minimumof vertical movement.

,A -plate member 69 is fixed towthe top of the frame members;64;and.-6,5; and-extends -from. adj,a-

cent the inner end thereof to past the mid point thereof as shown inFig.- 3. A second late member I9 is secured to the under side of theframe members 64 and. 6'5 and-extends from adjacent one end to adjacentthe other end thereof. A bearing II which is rigidly supported by theplates 69 and I9 provides a rotatable mounting for a verticallyextending relatively short shaft 12 which has a relatively largediameter.

A swingable frame I3 is rigidly connected to the upper end of the shaftI2 and at a right angle to the axis thereof. The frame I3 consists of apair of parallel tubular members I4 and I5 which are rigidly connectedadjacent each end by a pair of parallel channel members I9 and TI. Thechannels I9 and TI extend beyond the tubular members I4 and convergetoward the shaft I 2, to which they are fixedly connected. A supportingweb 18 preferably reinforces each of the channels I6 and 11 adjacent theshaft I2.

Fixed to the shaft I2 above the bearing II and below the frame I3 is aworm wheel '19. A worm 8I meshes with the worm wheel 19 and is driven bya reversible electric motor BI which is mounted on the plate 69.Operation of the motor 9| causes rotation of the shaft I2 and causesswinging movement of the frame 13 about the axis of said shaft.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that anangle member 82 connectsthe ends of the channel members 35 and 38 of each elevator. Extendinglongitudinally of each elevator and supported at each end by anintermediate portion of an angle member 82 is a rack member 83 havinggear teeth formed on the under side thereof as shownin Fig. 4. Referringagain to Figs. 3 and 4, a suitable bracket, such as the plate 84,depends from an edge portion of the plate I9 adjacent the frame member65 and supports a bearing 85 in which is rotatably mounted a shorttransverse shaft 89. Fixed to one end of the shaft 86 is a pinion 81which meshes with the rack 83, and fixed to the opposite end of saidshaft is a bevel gear 88.

. A longitudinally extending short shaft 89 is preferably journalled inbearings 99 and 9| which are suspended from the plate 19 in any suitablemanner. The shaft 89 is positioned in the same horizontal plane as theshaft 96. At one end of the shaft 89 is fixed a bevel gear 92; whichmeshes with the bevel gear 98. Between the bearings 99 and 9| a wormwheel 93 is fixedly mounted. The plate I9 is apertured adjacent theupper portion of the worm wheel 93 to permit said wheel to projectthereabove. A reversible electric motor 94 is suitably suspended fromthe edges of the plates 69 and 19 and from the frame member 64' asshown, and said motor drives a worm 95 which meshes with the worm wheel93. ,It is apparent that operation of the motor 94 causes rotation ofthe pinion 81, which, inturn, causes movement of the dolly 63longitudinally of the channels 35 and 38. l A pair of substantiallytriangular gusset plates 96 and 9! connect the channels 76 and 11adjacent their upper and lower surfaces and adjacent the shaft I2.Mounted on the lower gusset plate 91 is a bearing 98 in which is jour-fon the outer side of the channel 11 adjacent the slot, I.9.I .is an.electric motor I92 which drives a worm I93, the latter meshing with theworm wheel I99.

Pivotally connected to a peripheral portion of the upper surface of theworm wheel I99 isone end of a link I94. The opposite end of the link I94is pivotally connected to a shaft I95 which extends longitudinallythrough suitable bearings in the tubular frame members 14 and I5. Thetubular members 14 and I5 are formed with slots I96 on opposite sides ofthe shaft I95, said slots extending in the same horizontal plane as theshaft I95, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. A pair of spaced transversebars I25 and I26 are fixed to the shaft I95 on opposite sides of thetubular member I4. A pair of rod members I 99 and I I9 are rigidlyconnected at one end to the outer ends of the transverse bar I25 andextend through the slots I96 of the tubular member I4. The rods I99 andH9 converge and are rigidly connected to the shaft I95 as at I I I. Apair of rods H2 and II3 are similarly connected to thebar I26 andconvergingly extend through the slots I96 of thetubular member I5 to apoint II4 where they are fixed to the shaft I95.

Slidably positioned within each of the tubular frame members I4 and I5,and on each side of the shaft I95, are enlarged shafts II5, the out--side diameter of which is substantially equal to the inside diameter ofthe frame members" and I5. Each of the shafts H5 at its inner end isformed with an angled aperture II6 through which one of the rods I99,H9, H2 or II3 slidably extends as shown in Fig. 3. The outer ends of theshafts H5 are formed with portions of reduced diameter I ll at each endof which is mounted a set of ball bearings I9I which rotatably support asleeve roller I98. The sleeve rollers I99 have an outside diametersubstantially equal to that of the shafts II5.

It is apparent that operation of the motor I92 causes rotation of theworm wheel I99, which, in turn, causes axial reciprocation of the shaftI95. As the shaft I95 moves longitudinally, the rods I99, H9, H2 and II3move rectilinearly therewith. As the rods I99, H9, H2 and II3 so move,the shafts I I5 are caused to move transversely by reason of thecoaction of said rods with the apertures I16 therein. For example, whenthe shaft I95 moves toward the right in Fig. 3 to the dot and dashpositions therein,

the shafts I I5 are at the same time moved trans: versely outwardly tothe dot and dash positions in which they are shown. Conversely, when theshaft I is again moved toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, the shaftsII5 will be retracted from the dot and dash line positions to the fullline positions thereof.

The improved apparatus maybe constructed.

so that the street level coincides with any one ,of the storage stalllevels shown in Fig. 1.

and 3I is identical, though independent, and

since only the elevator 39 appears in Fig. 1, the operation of thatelevator will be described here.- inafter.

Prior to runningan automobile onto the elevator 39 from the entrance,the dolly 63 is prefer-- which is farthest from the stall in which'the'au omob e i to be t ed: M em of h do l s c m shed a e i u y s ed by o aon o e mot r 94- h frame iro the dolly 63 is swung toward a centralportion on the elevator with the shaft I 95 thereof, pref: erablysubstantially parallel with the channels 35 and38, is clearly shown inFigs. and 3 As also shown in Fig. 3, the shafts H5 and the rollersIIlBthereon are in retracted position.

An automobile may now be driven onto the elevator 30 from the entrance.As the auto.- mobile is driven onto said elevator, the wheels thereofwhich are nearest the tower 25 travel along the V-shaped angle member3?, and the wheels'on the opposite side of the automobile travel alongthe plate M. The angle member 31 guides the automobile, while the plateM, bein'gfiat, permits cars having wheelbases of various widths to becarried by the same eleva-f tor. In addition, the plate a: issufiiciently wide and is so positioned'that it provides a platform onwhich thedriver can walk upon alighting from the automobile.

' The automobile is preferably driven onto the elevator 31] until it issubstantially centered thereon as shown in Fig. 1. The dolly 53 is thenmoved, if necessary,'to position the rollers I08 of the frame '13, oneforwar ly and one rearwardly of the'fperiphery of the adjacent'tires ofthe automobile but offset inwardly therefrom. Bybri'eration' of themotor m2, the shaft we is recipro cated tothe right, as viewed in Fig.3, to thereby cause the shafts 1 I53 and the rollers N38 to moveoutwardly as previously described. This places the rollers I03 directlyforwardly and rearwardly of the tread surface of said tiresl Assumingthat it is desired to store the automobile in a stall on the fourthlevel and on the right hand side of the passageway as viewed in Fig. l,and as indicated by the letter A, the elevator 30 is raised, by means ofthe winch 48 until it registers with the desired level. The towerassembly I! is then moved longitudinally, if necessary, to cause theelevator 30 to register with the desired stall on the fourth level.Longitudinal movement of the tower l! is elfected, as previouslydescribed, by operation of the motor 55. When the elevator to has beenbrought into registration with the stall A, the dolly is moved towardsaid stall. Movement of the dolly as causes engagement of therollers I68with the adjacent automobile tires, and causes the rollers atthe rear ofsaid tires to'push forwardly on said tires. This causes the automobileto roll forwardly toward the stall A as shown by the dot and dash linesof Fig. l. The automobile pushed into the Stall A until the dolly 63 hasreached the limit of its travel in thechannels 35 and 38. This positionis that shown in 'dot "and dash lines at B in Fig. 1. It will be notedthat in'this' position the frame 73 projects intothe storage stall aconsiderable distance. After the automobile is placed in stored positionin the desired stall, the motor I02 on the dolly 63 is: operated toretract the rollers I03 from their positions of engagement with theautomobile tires. This permits the dolly 63 to 'bemovedfby operation ofthe motor 94 in a reverse direction along the elevator 38, said movementbeing effectiveto retract the frame I3 from the storage stall.

To remove an automobile from stored position in a stall, the operationis substantially the reverse of that storing said automobile. To do:

8 t is t e e e a or i oved ve t ca ly; and the tower is movedlongitudinally, if necess ary, until the elevator 39 registers with thestall in which the automobile is stored. The frame 13 is then projectedinto the stall, and 11 rollers I98 are extended into engagement with theadjacent tires of the automobile, as shown, for example, at 151*- inFig. 1, and as described hereinbefore. Mov.ement of the dolly 53 towardthe opposite end of the elevator 30 pulls the automobile onto theelevator with a rolling movement. After the auto;

I mobile has been pulled onto the elevator, the

the elevator from'the entrance it d note elevator can be lowered, andthe tower I'l moved longitudinally if necessary, to bring the elevatorinto registration with a stall which leads to the exit. The rollers I98are then retracted, and the car can then be driven off the elevator andento the street.

By reason of the swingable mounting for the frame 13, cars can withequal ease be stored in and removed from stalls on both sides of thepassageway I2. For example, to remove an auto: mobile from the position0 on the siXth level, the frame l3 would be swung from its 1105i: tionshown in Figs. 1 and 3, and the rollers, I08 would engage the fronttires of said automobile. The operation is substantially .the sameregard.- less of whether the rollers I08 engage? the front tires of anautomobile or the rear tires thereof.

Referring to Fig. 2; the frame I3 on the dolly of the elevator 33 isshown being swung from one position to another. figure that the rollersIilli'o'n the frame "1.3 of the elevator 3| are in projected position,and that the rollers W8 on the frame I3 of the elevator 33 are inretracted 'positioiff This is for the purpose of illustration. Normallythe rollers I 08 are in retracted position when notactually 'in engagement with the tires of an automobile. 1

It is contemplated that theentire apparatus be operated byremote'controtfrdm a fcentral station, and any suitable electricalcircuitmay be used to control the operation of the motors which drivethe various parts'of'the apparatus:

Engagement of the frame: s with theautor riobiles moved thereby isaccomplished exclusively gaging and moving said automobile. There is none d an bs i fe b 5. 3 .51 t rid th el v r or to drive automobiles intoor out of the storage stalls. Once the automobile has been Ki i Yen beentered for driving purposes until'it is e turn to t ee-s le e t9 be diven w by s i 1, 'i I .vl'm

Various chan es and mo ifi atio ma be made without departing frc' nr'[thev spirit of the invention, and all of such' ehangesare col ie Y aed a ay comelwi h fithescbp of t What I claim is:

1. A wheeled dolly for use in an apparatus for handlingautomobilesfcomprising: an elo d swingable frame mounted at one erld'fon.sa dolly for swinging ovement a horizo al plane, said frame" beingformed with p ofspaced p'arallel transverselyextending open end} edsleeves; automobile engaging means normal 1y positioned in said sleevesand movable, axially outwardly to positions in which they project be:

I yond a side .ofsaid frame; cam means on said It will also b'e'note'din'this' swingable frame mounted for reciprocating movementlongitudinally of said frame and positioned to cause simultaneouslateral movement of all of said rollers; an electric motor on saidswinging frame; and an eccentric driven by said motor and connected tosaid cam member to cause reciprocating movement of the latter when saideccentric is rotated.

2. In a wheeled dolly for use in an apparatus for handling automobiles:an elongated swingable frame mounted at one of its ends on said dollyfor swinging movement in a horizontal plane; an axially movabletransversely extending roller supporting member mounted on said frame,said member being formed with an oblique cam surface; a roller carriedat one end of said member and normally in retracted position in saidframe, said roller being movable outwardly of said frame to a projectingposition; a cam member mounted on said frarne for movementlongitudinally thereof, said cam member including an oblique rodpositioned in sliding engagement with the oblique cam surface of saidtransverse member, whereby longitudinal movement of said cam member inone direction causes axial movement of said roller from-its normalretracted position to a projecting position.

3. In a wheeled dolly for use in an apparatus for handling automobiles:an elongated swingable frame mounted at one of its ends on said dollyfor swinging movement in a horizontal plane; an axially movabletransversely extending shaft mounted on said frame, said shaft beingformed with an oblique aperture therethrough; a roller carried at oneend of said shaft and normally in retracted position in said frame, saidroller being movable outwardly of said frame to a projecting position; acam member mounted on said frame for movement longitudinally thereof,said cam member including an oblique rod slidably positioned in theoblique aperture of said transverse shaft, whereby longitudinal movementof said cam member in one direction causes axial movement of said rollerfrom its normal retracted position to a projecting position.

4. In a wheeled dolly for use in an apparatus for handling automobiles:an elongated swingable frame mounted at one of its ends on said dollyfor swinging movement in a horizontal plane; a slotted transverselyextending open ended sleeve carried by said frame; an axially movableshaft positioned in said sleeve, said shaft being formed with an obliquecam surface; a roller carried at one end of said shaft and normally in Iretracted position in said sleeve, said roller being movable outwardlyof said sleeve to a projecting position; a cam member mounted on saidframe for movement longitudinally thereof, said cam member including anoblique rod extending through the slots of said sleeve and positioned insliding engagement with the oblique cam surface of said shaft, wherebylongitudinal movement of said cam member in one direction causes axialmovement of said roller from its normal retracted position to aprojecting position.

5. In a wheeled dolly for use in an apparatus for handling automobiles:an elongated swingable frame mounted at one of its ends on said dollyfor swinging movement in a horizontal plane; a slotted transverselyextending open ended sleeve carried by said frame; an axially movableshaft positioned in said sleeve, said shaft being formed with an obliqueaperture there through; a roller carried at one end of said shaft andnormally in retracted position in said sleeve,

- able frame mounted said roller being movable outwardly of said sleeveto a projecting position; a cam member mounted on said frame formovement longitudinally thereof, said cam member including an obliquerod extending through the slots of said sleeve and slidably positionedin the oblique aperture of said ended sleeve carried by said frame; apair of axially movable shafts positioned in said sleeve, said shaftseach being formed with an oblique aperture therethrough; a rollercarried at an end of each of said shafts adjacent the ends of saidsleeve, said rollers being normally in retracted position in saidsleeve, and said rollers being movable in opposite directions outwardlyof said sleeve to projecting positions; a, cam member mounted on saidframe for movement longitudinally thereof, said cam member including apair of oblique rods extending through the slots of said sleeve and eachslidably positioned in the oblique aperture of one of said shafts,whereby movement of said cam member in one direction longitudinally ofsaid frame causes axial movement of said rollers from their normalretracted positions to projecting positions.

7. In a wheeled dolly for use in an apparatus for handling automobiles:an elongated swingable frame mounted at one of its ends on said dollyfor swinging movement in a horizontal plane; a pair of spacedtransversely extending slotted open ended sleeves carried by said frame;a pair of axially movable shafts positioned in each of said sleeves,said shafts each being formed with an oblique aperture therethrough; aroller carried at an end of each of said shafts adjacent the ends ofsaid sleeves, said rollers being normally in retracted position withinsaid sleeves, and said roller being movable outwardly of said sleeves topro- ,iecting positions; a pair of interconnected cam members mounted onsaid frame for movement longitudinally thereof, said cam members eachincluding a pair of oblique rods extending through the slots of one ofsaid sleeves and each rod extending slidably through the oblque apertureof one of the shafts in said sleeve, whereby movement of said cammembers in one direction longitudinally of said frame causessimultaneous axial movement of all of said rollers from their normalretracted positions to projecting positions.

8. A wheeled dolly for use in an apparatus for handling automobilescomprising a relatively short wheeled frame an elongated swingable framemounted at one end of said wheeled frame for swinging movement in ahorizontal plane, said frame being of a length to always project asubstantial distance beyond said wheeled frame laterally movable meansat the opposite end of said frame and a substantial distance beyond thewheels of said wheeled frame for effecting a draft engagement with anautomobile, cam means on said swingable frame mounted for areciprocating movement longitudinally of said frame and positioned tocause lateral movement of said laterally movable means, an electricmotor on said swinging frame, and mechanism driven by said motor andconnected to said cam means to cause reciprocating movement of thelatter.

9. An apparatus for handling automobiles comprising an elevator, a dollypermanently mounted onsaid elevator for movement toward either endthereof; a cantilever frame pivotally mounted on said dolly for swingingmovement, said frame being of substantially greater length than saiddolly to always project a substantial distance thereb'eyond releasablemeans on said frame near the outermost portion thereof and a substantialdistance beyond said dolly for effecting a draft engagement of saidframe with an automobile, said frame being of a length to project in aselc'ted direction beyond either end of said elevator to causepositioning of the same releasable means beyond either end of theelevator while the dolly is still on the elevator, and means on thedolly for causing swinging movement of the frame.

10. An apparatus for handling automobiles comprising an elevator, adolly permanently mounted on said elevator for movement toward eitherend thereof; a cantilever frame pivotally mounted on said dolly forswinging movement, said frame being of substantially greater lengththan" said dolly to always project a substantial distance therebeyondreleasable means on said frame near the outermost portion thereof and asubstantial distance beyond said dolly for effecting a draft engagementof said frame with an automobile, said frame being of a length to pro-ject in' a selected direction beyond either end of said elevatortocause positioning of the same, releasable means beyond either end ofthe elevator while the dolly is still on the elevator, said frame beingin overba-lanced relationship with respect to said dolly, and meansbetween said dolly and elevator for bracing the dolly during swingingmovement of said overbalanoed frame and for bracing the dolly when theframe is projecting beyond an end of the elevator.

11. An apparatus for handling automobiles comprising an elevator, adolly permanently mounted on said elevator for movement toward eitherend thereof; a cantilever frame pivotally mounted on said dolly forswinging movement, said frame being of substantially greater length thansaid dolly to always project a substantial distance therebeyondreleasable means on said frame near the" outermost portion thereof and asubstantial distance beyond said dolly for effecting a a draftengagement of said frame with an automobile, said framebeing of a lengthto project in a selected direction beyond either end of said elevator tocause positioning of the same releasable means beyond either end of theelevator while the dolly is still on the elevator, and means betweensaid dolly and elevator for bracing the dolly during swinging movementof said frame andfor bracing the dolly when the frame is projectingbeyond an end of the elevator.

12; In combination: an elevator having open ends and having an openside, a relative short wheeled dolly mounted on said elevator formovement toward and away from said open ends, and

iii

2 a frame swingably mounted on said dolly, said frame having automobileengaging means on an outer portion and having a length so that saidouter portion normally projects a substantial distance beyond the Wheelsof the dolly and a substantial distance beyond the side of the elevatorwhen the-frame is swung to a position transversely of saidelevator,.the' open side of said elevator permitting unobstructedswinging movement of the frame through an arc of approximately 180outwardly of its axis of swinging movement whereby the automobileengaging means on said frame may be selectively swung.

toward either end of the elevator and whereby the automobile engagingmeans may be caused to proieot a substantial distance beyond either endof the elevator while the dolly is still on the elevator and when it ismoved close to said end.

13. In combination: an elevator having open ends and having an openside, a relative short wheeled dolly mounted on said elevator formovement toward and away from said open ends, and a frame horizontallyswingably mounted on said dolly, said frame having automobile engagingmeans on an outer portion and having a, length so that said outerportion normally projects a substantial distance beyond the wheels ofthe dolly and a substantial distance beyond the side of the elevatorwhen the frame is swung toa position transversely of said elevator, theopen side "of said elevator permitting unobstructed swinging movement ofthe frame through a horizontal arc of approximately 180 outwardly of itsaxis of swinging movement whereby the automobile engaging means on saidframe may be selectively swung toward either end of the elevator andwhereby the automobile engaging means may be caused to project asubstantial distance beyond either end of the elevator while the dollyis still on the elevator and when it is moved close to said end. I I} IROY O. BILLINGSl aerrenees cited in the file of this atent UNITED STATESPATENTS Number Name Date 1;11 l,975 Fessenden Oct. 27, 1914 1,589,080Dinkelberg May 11, 1926 1,594,368 Jacobs Aug. 3, 1926 1,641,651 WulfSept. 6, 1927 1,828,307 Been Oct. 20, 1931 1,885,213 Aitken Nov. 1, 19321,391,795 Buettell Dec. 20, 1932 1,910,398 Ludington May 23, 19332,004,095 Hankins et a1. June'll, 19-35 2,0,16,66 2 Aitken Oct. 8, 19352,928,391 Harnischfeger Jan. 21, 1936 Kent Feb. 16, 2,977,238 HendricksApr. 13, 1937 2,117,274 Buettell May 17, 1938 -Mar iano Jan. 3,2,543,295 McGregor et a1. Feb. 27, 1951

